National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting

Hon. Members, this Communication relates to the decision of the House on the Natural Resources (Benefit Sharing) Bill, (Senate Bill No.6 of 2022) . As you are all aware, on Tuesday, 12th March 2024, the House rejected the Motion for the Second Reading of the Natural Resources (Benefit Sharing) Bill, (Senate Bill No.6 of 2022) . The import of the National Assembly’s rejection of the said Bill essen…

Pursuant to Standing Order 41(1) of the National Assembly Standing Orders, I wish to report that the House has received two Messages from the Senate regarding the passage of the Water (Amendment) Bill, (National Assembly Bill No.33 of 2023) and the Care and Protection of Child Parents Bill, (Senate Bill No.29 of 2023). The first Message conveys that on Thursday, 7th March 2024, the Senate conside…

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table:

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table: Report of the Departmental Committee on Education on its consideration of the Higher Education Loans Board (Amendment) Bill, (National Assembly Bill No.10 of 2023) .

Next Order.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, aware that Kenya is an agricultural-based economy with a significant portion of its population relying on farming for their livelihood; noting that, the quality and quantity of crop yields in Kenya has been hampered to a large extent by lack of adequate and quality fertilizers leading to decreased agricultural productivity a…

supply of fertilizers by identifying potential partner countries that have surplus and quality fertilizers; and,

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker for giving me this opportunity. I beg to give notice of the following Motion: Aware that sports play an integral role in promoting cultural heritage, national identity, national development, the well-being of the people and sustenance of livelihoods particularly of the youth; appreciating that Sessional Paper No.3 of 2005 provides a framework for sports development …

Thank you. Next Order.

Hon. Deputy Speaker.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Pursuant to Standing Order 44 (2) (d) , I rise to make a Statement on the leadership of the Committee on Members' Services and Facilities and the Committee of Powers and Privileges, which were reconstituted on Tuesday, 5th March 2024. Standing Order 212 (b) establishes the Committee on Members' Services and Facilities and provides that: “The Committee shall cons…

Very well. Next Order.

Hon. Tindi Mwale. He is not in the House. Hon. John Mutunga, had you spoken to this? Hon. Members, to refresh the screen, remove your cards and key them in afresh because most of the members who are on the list are likely not interested in speaking to this. Very well. You can now key in. Next is the Member for Nyeri Town, Hon. Maina Mathenge. Have you spoken to this? I suspect you had spoken to …

[(Hon. (Dr.) John K. Mutunga spoke off the record)]

[(Hon. Duncan Mathenge spoke off the record)]

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to this important Bill. I was prepared to contribute yesterday, but time did not allow it. I am happy that I now have the opportunity. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I want to start by supporting this important Bill on the Regional Development Authorities (RDAs) . We all know that we have quite a number of RDAs in this cou…

Parliament. One of the challenges we are facing in this country with RDAs is inadequate funding. Normally, those authorities are supposed to serve the development needs of this country. That means you need both a recurrent and a development budget. But over time, because of inadequacies of funding, you realise that the recurrent budget is provided and, in most cases, a very minimal budget for deve…

board member and an employee in those RDAs, and focus more on merit other than connections. The challenge we have in this country when it comes to matters of who joins which board or who is employed where is; the focus is more on the connections that one has as opposed to the merit. The time has come that, as a House, we focus more on merit. If we do that, we will be helping this country. The las…

On a point of order.

Yes, what is your point of order, Hon. Wanjiku Muhia?

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I rise under Standing Order 95 to notify you that this Bill has been sufficiently debated and, therefore, request that you call upon the Mover to reply. Many of us here are waiting for the next Order. Thank you.

Hon. Members, a Member has risen under Standing Order 95; that the Mover be called upon to reply.

[(Question, that the Mover be now called upon to reply, put and agreed to)]

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I thank all Members who have contributed to this Bill. I also thank Members of the Committee on Regional Integration for working hard and ensuring that we get the Report of this Bill. I also thank them for making themselves available yesterday to make their contributions. As I rise to reply, I echo a majority of the sentiments that have been espoused by the Hon. …

[(Hon. Ferdinand Wanyonyi spoke off the record)]

[(Hon. Omboko Milemba)]

Combining the strengths of RDAs that are national Government agencies with county governments would ensure that we tackle regional inequalities. It will give them strength to boost economic progress and improve the overall quality of life everywhere in this country. That partnership will help to avoid duplication of projects, ensuring that initiatives align with broader regional plans and promote…

Give him one minute to conclude.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for adding me one minute. I request that the Hon. Members pass this Bill and move on to the next stage, where the Committee will propose amendments. That will include an amendment to reduce the number of board members from 12 to 9. There will be other proposed amendments from the Committee. Hon. Temporary Speaker, with those few remarks, I beg to reply. Thank yo…

Very well. The Question to this particular Bill will be put during the next Sitting. Next Order.

[(Putting of the Question deferred)]